Submarine search-light



(No Model.)

A. L. DUTTON. SUBMARINE SEARCH LIGHT.

No. 404,390. Patented June 4, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

'- ANDREV L. DUTTON, OF RACINE, IVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO llIMSELF AND XVALTER B. DUTTON, OF SAME PLACE, AND MARSHALL M. DUTTON, OF

OIIIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUBMARINE SEARCH-LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,390, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed November 16, 1888. Serial No. 291,037, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. DUTTON, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State ot' 5 lVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Submarine Search-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to submarine searchlights.

The object of my invention is to provide a search-light apparatus or device whereby objects under water may be illuminated by a light placed in proximity thereto under the water and observed from a point above the surface of the water, and whereby also photographs may be taken of such illuniinated objects in or under the water.

My invention consists, essentially, of a shell or case adapted to be submerged under the 2o water to any desired depth, containing an electric or other lamp for illuminating the submarine object to be observed, and provided with an observation-tube extending from the case to the surface of the water, the case being furnished with suitable lenses or windows for directing the light of the lamp upon the object and for rellecting the image thereof up through the observation-tube, in connection with a camera which is mounted within 3o this submerged case or shell, for photographing the objector image thereof as it is re- .tlected upon the mirror within the chamber ot the shell.

My invention also consists in the nevel devices and novelcombinations of parts and devices herein shown-and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which torni a part of this speciiication, and in which simi- 4o lar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l is a side elevation olf a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Fig. is a detailv view showing the mechanism for operatingl the shutter of the camera, and Fig. at is a detail view showing the hey for closing the electric circuit at the upper end of the observation-tube in order to operate the shutter of the camera.

In the drawings, vA represents the observal tion-tube, which is made in a series oit screwthreaded sections, so that it maybe extended to any desired length as the case or shell l is lowered into the water by simply attaching additionalscctions d at the upper end of the tube. 'To the upper section a of the tube is attached a telescope O, which may be of any suitable and well-known construction, through which the rciiected image of the illuminated object may be observed. The lower section of the observatioirtube A is attached to the hollow hub or sleeve l) ot the ease or shell B by screw-threads a. The joint between the tube A and the hub l1 is made water-tight by a suitable packing-ring li" and clamp-ring Zig, which is secured to the hub l) by screws b3. The case or shell ll is made in two parts, the same having lianges hl, which are securely united by screws or bolts lf), the joint between the two Vflanges being made water-tight by a suitable packing-ring h6. The case or shell I3 contains three separate chambers B', B2, and llmon'e for the electric lamp D or other light, one for the reflectors or lenses, and one for the camera. The light-chamber IS is turnished with a lens, glass plate, or window E, through which the light `from the lamp D may be cast upon the submarine object. The light-chamber I3 is also furnished with a reflector F for directing the light ol' the lamp more effectively upon the object in front ot the lens E. The lens Il is secured in the opening E by a clamp-ring E?, the joint bcing made water-tight by the packing-ring E.

The clamp-ring E2 is secured by threaded bolts c. The lamp D is preferably an incandescent electric lamp. Other kinds ol' lamps may, however, be used. The lamp is attached inside the chamber Il to a screw-threaded boss d. The electrieeircuit wires d d extend up through the small supplemental tube D', which is attached to the obscrvatioir-tube A. The lens E may be mounted adjustably, it desired, so that it may be turned to throw the light in dilt'erent directions. This, however, ordinarily will not be required, as the lamp D is located very close to the lens or window E, so that the light will be thrown upon quite a large lield.

The re{lector-chamber Il? in the shell l is IOO v up or down.

ing G' by means of a clamp g, screws g', and packing-ring g2, so as to` form a watertight connection.` The reflector-chamber B2 is provided with one or more-preferably tworeflector-lenses H H', so constructed and arranged that the image of the object is reflected up the observation-tube A. These reflectors H H' may be of any suitable form or construction, and may be mounted and secured in any suitable manner within the chamber B2. The reflector H, which is placed opposite the lens G, is preferably concave, and it is mounted upon an adjustable slide h, attached to the wall of the chamber B2 by thumb-screws h', so that it may be adjusted The inclination of the reflector H may be adjusted on the slide h, as the reflector H is pivoted near one end, at h2, to said slide, and at the opposite end it is furnished with a pivoted pin h2, which slides in asleeve h4, pivoted to the slide h. The pivoted pin is secured in the sleeve by a set-screw h5. The reflector H' is mounted opposite the observation-tube A, so that the image thereon may be seen through said tube. The reflector H' is also mounted adjustably, being pivoted to a sliding sleeve h, which is adj ustably secured on a pin h2 byaset-screw h2. To more securely fix the reflector in place, it is furnished with a pivoted pin h2, which slides in a pivoted sleeve hw. A set-screw 71,11 secures the pin h2 in place in the sleeve hw.

The camera K, which may be of any wellknown construction, is secured to the shell B Within the camera-chamber B3, and is directed and properly focused upon the reflector H. The camera-chamber B3 has an opening K', through which the lens-tube of the camera may project. Before the camera is placed in the lens-chamber B3 it is adjusted to properly focus upon the reflector H.

7c represents the ordinary sliding shutter with which the camera is provided, and 7c' is the spring for actuating the same. This shutter has an adjustable opening 7a2, so that a greater or less exposure may be given as the shutter moves.

N is an electro-magnet having an armature N', to which the shutter-releasing catch or pin fn is secured. Vhen the magnet N is energized by a current flowing through the circuit-wires n n', the shutter is released and the image of the object upon the reflector H' will be photographed by the camera. rlhe circuit-wires n' n' extend up alongside the observation-tube A, and preferably through the same tube D' which carries the electriclight wires d' d'.

The shell B is provided with a base-plate P, which is connected to the shell or case B by a ball-and-socket joint p p', so that the shell B may be turned onvits axis, and so that it may be tilted from side to side, as may be required, to direct the lenses E G upon any object desired. The electric circuit n' n', which is used to operate the shutter of the camera,

is closed by a key a2, secured to the'tube A near the top thereof. y

The light-chamber B' is provided with a window or opening B4 to let additional light into the reflector-chamber B2 when desired. This opening maybe closed or partially closed, as required, by a shutter or slide B5, which turns upon a pivot B6.

The case B may be made of any suitable material; but it is preferably made of castiron. If the case B is furnished with other than an electric lamp, a suitable draft tube or chimney will be substituted for the tube which carries the electric wires. In ,this case the fresh air may be admitted down through an additional tube attached to the observation-tube.

In operation the device may be used from a boat, Wharf, or other convenient point above the surface of the Water.

I claiml. The combination, with the shell or case B, of an observation-tube A, attached thereto, a lamp contained Within said case for illuminating the object, lenses or reflectors, and a camera contained Within said case or shell adjacent to said observation-tube, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the tube A, of shell or case B, having light-chamber B' and reflector-chamber B2, electric lamp D, lens or window E, lens or window G, and two reflect` ors Within said chamber B2, one opposite said lens G and one opposite said observation-tube A, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the tube A, of shell or case B, having light-chamber B and reflector-chamber B2, electric lamp D, lens or window E, lens or window G, and tWo reflectors Within said chamber B2, one opposite said lens G and one opposite said observation-tube A, and camera K, contained within said case or shell adjacent to said observation-tubes, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the tube A, of shell or case B, having light-chamber B and reflector-chamber B2, electric lamp D, lens or window E, lens or window G, and two reflectors within said chamber B2, one opposite said lens G and one opposite said observation-tube A, camera K, and an electric circuit and magnet for operating the shutter of said camera, substantially as specified.

-5. The combination, with tube A, of shell or case B, having light-chamber B and reflector-chamber B2, electric lamp D, lens or window E, lens or Window G, and two reflectors within said chamber B2, one opposite said lens G and one opposite said observation-tube A, said reflectors being hung adj ustably within said chamber, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with shell or case B, of an observation-tube A, attached thereto, a lamp contained within said case for illuminating the object, and lenses or reflectors, said case being provided with a base P, con- IOO IIO

neeted thereto by a ball-aiul-Socket joint, Sul)- stantially as specified.

7. The combination of observation-tube A, oase ll, having Windows o1' lenses E G, lamp D, and base-plate l), said shell B, with its tube A, being rotatable on Said base-plate, Substantially as specified.

S. The combination, with the tube A, of shell o1' ease B, having ligllt-elianiber B and 1o roflodor-chamber B2, electric lamp D, lens or window E, lens or Window G, and two reflectY- ors within said Chamber B2, one opposite said lens G and one opposite Said observation-tube A, and a telescope at the upper end of Said observation-tube, substantially as specified.

ANDREXV L. BUTTON. Vitnesses:

BYRON SUTHERLAND, BYRON B. NORTHROP. 

